U.S. patent number 10,675,574 [Application Number 15/171,344] was granted by the patent office on 2020-06-09 for filter device comprising an adapter piece.
This patent grant is currently assigned to MANN+HUMMEL GmbH. The grantee listed for this patent is MANN+HUMMEL GMBH. Invention is credited to Herbert Jainek.
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United States Patent |
10,675,574 |
Jainek |
June 9, 2020 |
Filter device comprising an adapter piece
Abstract
A filter device includes a hollow cylindrical filter element and
a bypass valve, the valve body of which rests against an adapter
piece that is arranged on the end face of the filter element. At
least one bypass opening is integrated into the adapter piece.
Inventors: |
Jainek; Herbert (Heilbronn,
DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MANN+HUMMEL GMBH |
Ludwigsburg |
N/A |
DE |
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Assignee: |
MANN+HUMMEL GmbH (Ludwigsburg,
DE)
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Family
ID: |
51753227 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/171,344 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20160271539 A1 |
Sep 22, 2016 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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PCT/EP2014/072513 |
Oct 21, 2014 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 2, 2013 [DE] |
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10 2013 018 045 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D
35/147 (20130101); B01D 35/306 (20130101); B01D
35/005 (20130101); B01D 2201/0415 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01D
35/30 (20060101); B01D 35/00 (20060101); B01D
35/147 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1833749 |
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Jun 2011 |
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CN |
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102009033263 |
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Feb 2010 |
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DE |
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1199093 |
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Apr 2002 |
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EP |
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1444083 |
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Jul 1976 |
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GB |
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2014082762 |
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Jun 2014 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Menon; Krishnan S
Assistant Examiner: Ali; Waqaas
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hasselbeck; James
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A filter device for filtering a fluid, comprising: a filter
housing including: a filter housing center tube having a first
axial end fastened directly onto an interior wall of the filter
housing, the filter housing center tube having an outer wall formed
as a plurality of ring-shaped ribs closing about a hollow interior
of the filter housing center tube, the plurality of ring-shaped
ribs spaced apart axially, the axial spacing forming a plurality of
radial flow-through openings extending through the outer wall from
an exterior side of the filter housing center tube to the hollow
interior of the filter housing center tube; wherein the filter
housing center tube has a bypass valve assembly including: a spring
arranged within the filter housing center tube; and a valve body
slidably mounted on an opposite second axial end of the filter
housing center tube, valve body loaded by the spring and moveable
axially relative to the filter housing center tube; wherein the
valve body projects axially outwardly beyond the second axial end
of the filter housing center tube; and wherein the valve body has
at least one hook projection, the at least one hook projection
projecting radially outward from the valve body and projecting
radially outward through a respective one of the plurality of
radial flow-through openings of the filter housing center tube,
wherein the at least one hook projection is axially captured in and
axially movable in the respective one of the plurality of radial
flow-through openings to permit an axial movement of the valve body
from an open to a closed position, the at least one hook projection
slidably fixing the valve body to the filter housing center tube,
and slidably fixing the valve body onto the interior wall of the
filter housing through the filter housing center tube; and a hollow
cylindrical filter element installed onto the filter housing center
tube within an interior of the filter housing, the filter element
including: a filter medium, arranged as a cylindrical closed filter
medium surrounding and radially enclosing around a central axis,
wherein the filter medium defines a hollow interior chamber
elongated along the central axis, the cylindrical closed filter
medium having a first axial end face and an opposing second axial
end face; wherein axial, as used herein, is a direction defined by
the central axis; wherein radial, as used herein, is a direction
traverse to the central axis; a first axial end disc arranged on
the first axial end face of the cylindrical closed filter medium; a
second axial end disc arranged on an opposing second axial end face
of the cylindrical closed filter medium; wherein the hollow
cylindrical filter element is configured to filter fluid flowing
radially through the filter medium; an adapter piece is arranged on
the first axial end disc, the adapter piece including a tubular
connecting piece projecting axially outwardly away from an axially
outer side of the adapter piece, the tubular connecting piece
forming a flow passage opening that opens into the hollow interior
chamber; and at least one bypass opening positioned radially
outwardly away from an outer side of the tubular connecting piece,
the at least one bypass opening extending through the adapter piece
to open into the hollow interior chamber; wherein, when the filter
element is installed in the filter housing, the filter housing
center tube on the interior wall is inserted through the opening of
the second axial end disc and into the hollow interior chamber of
the filter element, such that the valve body is arranged to close
against the at least one bypass opening of the adapter piece;
wherein the spring loads the valve body to close the at least one
bypass opening to flow; wherein the adapter piece overlaps the
interior chamber in the filter element in a flow-tight manner;
wherein the adapter piece has at least one clamping element
arranged in the hollow interior chamber of the filter medium, the
at least one clamping element having a clamping projection that
projects radially into the filter medium and catches there,
securing the adapter piece against an outer side of the first axial
end disc.
2. The filter device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
clamping element clamps into a radially inner flow face of the
filter medium in the hollow interior chamber.
3. The filter device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
clamping element axially overlaps a respective one of the end discs
and projects radially into the filter medium body of the filter
element through the respective end disc.
4. The filter device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
adapter piece is permanently welded or glued onto a respective one
of the end discs of the filter element.
5. The filter device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
adapter piece covers the one of the end faces of the filter
element.
6. The filter device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
tubular connecting piece is formed together with and in one piece
with the adapter piece as a unitary one-piece component, the
tubular connecting piece extending axially outwardly away from the
filter medium.
7. The filter device in accordance with claim 6, further
comprising: a sealing ring is arranged directly on the tubular
connecting piece or a sealing geometry is molded on the connecting
piece.
8. The filter device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring
applies an axial spring force to the valve body relative to the
filter housing center tube, to axially move the valve body to close
against the at least one bypass opening of the adapter piece.
9. The filter device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a sealing
element or a non-woven ring is arranged between the adapter piece
and a respective one of the end discs on which the adapter piece is
arranged; wherein the sealing element or a non-woven ring is
arranged on or molded directly on either the adapter piece or the
respective one of the end discs.
10. The filter device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
adapter piece also formed with the first axial end disc as a single
unitary one-piece component.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a filter device, to a filter element for
receiving the filter device, and to an adapter piece for arranging
on the filter element.
BACKGROUND
DE 10 2009 033 263 A1 describes a fluid filter that has a hollow
cylindrical filter element, through which fuel flows radially from
the exterior towards the interior and that is covered on its end
faces by end discs. For stabilization, inserted into the interior
of the filter element is a lattice-shaped support body in which is
received a bypass valve having a spring-loaded valve body that
during regular filtration operation closes a flow opening of the
cylindrical interior in one of the end discs. In this condition,
the raw fluid flows through the filter element radially from the
exterior towards the interior and is axially discharged from the
chamber via the side axially opposing the bypass valve. If the flow
resistance is too high due to soiling of the filter element, the
bypass valve opens so that the raw fluid can travel directly to the
clean side, bypassing the filter element.
EP 1 199 093 A1 describes a comparable fluid filter that also has a
bypass valve in the interior of a hollow cylindrical filter
element, the valve body of which is force-actuated using the force
of a spring element against the opening in an end-face end disc of
the filter element.
SUMMARY
The underlying object of the invention is to design a filter device
having a hollow-cylindrical filter element and integrated bypass
valve in a structurally simple manner that is versatile in use.
The filter device according to the invention is used for filtering
a fluid, preferably a liquid such as e.g. a lubricant or fuel. It
is possible that the filter device may also be used for filtering a
gaseous fluid. The filter device includes a hollow cylindrical
filter element that is received in a filter housing and through
which the fluid to be cleaned flows radially. The direction of flow
is preferably radially from the exterior towards the interior.
The interiorly disposed chamber in the filter element forms a flow
space that, during radial flow from the exterior towards the
interior, represents the clean side from which the cleaned fluid
flows out axially. The two opposing end faces of the filter element
are each covered by an end disc, wherein a flow opening for the
axial passage of the fluid is added to at least one end disc. The
filter medium body of the filter element is embodied, for instance,
as a pleated filter and comprises paper or non-woven material.
Integrated into the filter element is a bypass valve, the valve
body of which is force-actuated into the closed position by a
spring element. In the normal operating mode, the bypass valve is
closed, the valve body seals a bypass opening between the
interiorly disposed chamber in the filter element and the space
surrounding the filter element. If the pressure in the raw fluid
rises above a threshold, the filter body is displaced against the
force of the spring element acting thereon out of the closed
position into the opening position, so that the bypass is exposed
and the raw fluid can flow immediately from the raw side to the
clean side, bypassing the filter medium body. In the normal
mode--the regular filtration mode with a pressure in the raw fluid
below the threshold--the bypass valve is closed so that the raw
fluid flows through the filter medium body of the filter
element.
An adapter piece that is embodied separately from the end discs is
arranged on the end face of the filter element and cooperates with
the valve body of the bypass valve. The adapter piece preferably
embodies the valve seat, with respect to which the valve body of
the bypass valve is sealed when closed. The adapter piece may limit
the adjustment travel of the valve body in the closed position of
the valve. The adapter piece is thus a component of the bypass
valve. The adapter piece also has a flow connection section via
which the interior in the hollow cylindrical filter element may be
connected to a connecting line or a connecting tube for the fluid.
The adapter piece thus has two functions: First, the adapter piece
cooperates with the valve body of the bypass valve in that the
valve body is force-actuated by the force of the spring element
against a bypass opening in the adapter piece, and second, the flow
is guided between the interior in the filter element and a
connecting line via the flow connection section of the adapter
piece. The bypass opening in the adapter piece is preferably
disposed radially outside of the flow connection section.
Due to this embodiment of the adapter piece, it is possible to
perform the flow guidance in the normal mode, with a closed bypass
valve, and to perform the flow guidance via the bypass valve on the
same end face of the filter element. Thus, for instance when used
as an oil filter in an upright standing position with a vertical
longitudinal filter axis, the lower end of the filter device may
project into the oil sump in an oil pan without there being a
danger that very soiled oil will travel from the bottom of the oil
pan directly from the raw side to the clean side when the bypass
valve arranged on the upper end of the oil filter is opened. The
bypass valve is disposed adjacent to the upper end disc of the
filter element. The interior in the hollow cylindrical filter
element forms the clean side from which the cleaned fluid is
discharged via the flow connection section of the adapter piece
during normal operation.
The adapter piece is seated on the end face of the filter element
and overlaps the interiorly disposed chamber. The flow connection
section preferably runs as a connector in the axial direction and
can be used for connecting another tube line, via which the cleaned
fluid is discharged. The connecting piece advantageously receives a
circumferential sealing element in order to enable a flow-tight
connection to the other tube line or a counter-piece. The sealing
element may be embodied as an O-ring, a rectangular seal, or
sealing bead. The material used may be an elastomer or non-woven
fabric, for instance. Alternatively, the sealing element may also
be molded directly to the connecting piece, for instance using a 2K
injection molding method, or may be formed of the same material as
the adapter piece.
The at least one bypass opening, preferably a plurality of bypass
openings, in the end-face adapter piece are disposed radially
within the diameter of the interiorly disposed chamber in the
filter element, so that when the valve body opens, there is an
immediate flow connection between the space surrounding the end
face of the filter element and the interiorly disposed chamber. The
bypass openings are disposed radially outside of the connecting
piece. In one preferred arrangement, a plurality of openings are
arranged spaced radially annularly about the connecting piece. When
the valve body opens, raw fluid flows through the bypass openings
into the chamber, from which the uncleaned fluid is discharged
axially via the connecting piece in the adapter piece.
The adapter piece is seated on the end face of the filter element
and overlaps the chamber in the filter element in a flow-tight
manner. In accordance with one advantageous embodiment, the adapter
piece also forms one of the end-face end discs; in this case, the
adapter piece may be bonded or glued to the end face of the filter
element. In one alternative embodiment, the adapter piece may be
permanently joined to an end disc of the filter element, in
particular by welding to the end face of the filter element, for
instance by means of butt welding.
However, it is also possible for there to be an embodiment of the
adapter piece and end disc, wherein the separate adapter piece
completely or partially overlaps the end disc radially. Arranged
between the end-face end disc on the filter element and the seated
adapter piece may be a sealing element or a non-woven material ring
that is arranged directly adjacent to the flow opening in the end
disc and thus to the chamber in the filter element. The sealing
element or non-woven material ring may possibly have an L-shaped
section and project axially into the chamber. The sealing element
or non-woven material ring prevents incorrect flows between the end
disc and the adapter piece from being able to occur in the normal
mode between the environment and the chamber. The sealing element
or non-woven material ring may possibly also be embodied as an
adhesive layer with which the adapter piece is glued to the end
face of the filter element.
In accordance with another useful embodiment, the adapter piece has
at least one clamping element that projects into the chamber of the
filter element and that connects the adapter piece with positive or
non-positive fit to the filter element and axially secures it to
the filter element. For instance, a plurality of clamping elements
may be molded to the adapter piece around its circumference in
order to retain the adapter piece on the filter element with
uniform force distribution. The clamping element advantageously
axially overlaps the end disc and projects radially into the filter
center or the filter medium body of the filter element.
A support or center tube may be integrated into the filter element,
the wall of the support or center tube having sufficiently large
through-flow openings that the radial through-flow of the filter
element is not prevented. The center tube imparts additional
stability to the filter element. At the same time, the center tube
may be used for securing and retaining the valve body and the
spring element that urges the valve body toward the closed position
of the bypass valve. The valve body is for instance retained with
positive fit on the center tube, for instance clipped into the
center tube, wherein an axial relative movement of the valve body
relative to the center tube is possible in order to be able to
perform the opening and closing movement.
The filter device may be embodied in two parts in that the housing
component along with the center tube and the components of the
bypass valve form a first component and the filter element along
with the adapter piece form the second component, wherein the two
components may be combined to create the filter device.
The clamping element on the adapter piece exercises a radially
outwardly directed force onto the filter medium body or the
material of the end disc, which extends axially slightly into the
material of the filter medium body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Additional advantages and useful embodiments may be found in the
other claims, description of the figures, and drawings.
FIG. 1 depicts a section through the individual components of a
filter device embodied as an oil filter, prior to assembly, having
a hollow cylindrical filter element on the end face of which an
adapter piece is seated, and having a receiving housing component
with a center tube and a valve body, retained on the center tube,
of a bypass valve;
FIG. 2 depicts the filter device in accordance with FIG. 1 when
assembled.
Identical components are provided with the same reference numbers
in the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a filter device 1, embodied as an oil filter,
having a housing component 2, which is part of a filter housing,
and a filter element 3 that may be inserted in the housing
component 2 and that is embodied as a hollow cylinder and through
which flows, from the exterior to the interior, the fluid to be
cleaned. The filter element 3 has an interiorly disposed chamber 4
that forms the clean side of the filter element. End discs 5, 6
that axially close the filter medium body of the filter element 3
in a flow-tight manner are disposed on two end faces of the filter
element 3.
The housing component 2 is embodied as a screw-in unit that forms a
cover, and has exteriorly disposed teeth that make it possible to
screw the housing component 2 into a receiving housing from below.
A drain screw 7, which is in fluid connection with the chamber 4 in
the filter element 3 when assembled, is disposed in the bottom area
of the housing component 2. Oil that has collected in the housing
component 2 may be drained by unscrewing the drain screw 7. When
assembled, the filter device 1 assumes the position depicted in
FIG. 2 in which the filter longitudinal axis 8 runs at least
approximately vertically.
The filter device 1 furthermore includes a center tube 9 that, when
assembled, projects into the chamber 4 in the filter element 3 and
additionally stabilizes the filter element. The center tube 9 is
positioned against the inner wall of the chamber 4 and has large
flow openings through which the fluid may pass when it flows
through the filter element. The center tube 9 is retained on the
bottom of the housing component 2, for instance by means of a catch
mechanism.
The filter element 3 is equipped with a bypass valve 10 that, when
open, directly connects the raw side to the clean side so that the
fluid travels directly into the chamber 4, bypassing the filter
medium body. The bypass valve 10 includes a valve body 11 that is
retained, axially adjustably, on the center tube, and a spring
element 12 as valve spring that is supported on the center tube 9
and urges the valve body 11 in the axial direction towards the
closed position. The valve body 11 is latched to the center tube 9
via a hook-shaped section 13 that has a hook nose oriented radially
outwardly in that the hook-shaped section 13 engages a bar that
runs circumferentially on the center tube 9. This makes it possible
for the valve body 11 to carry out an axial adjustment movement
between its closed position and its open position relative to the
center tube 9; at the same time, the valve body 11 is retained
securely axially on the center tube 9. When assembled, the valve
body 11 and the spring element 12 are disposed in the chamber 4 of
the filter element 3.
Seated on the upper end face of the filter element 3 is an adapter
piece 14 that cooperates with the bypass valve 10 and also
produces, via a connecting piece 15, a flow connection between the
chamber 4 in the filter element 3 and a line or tube to be
connected to the connecting piece 15. The adapter piece 14 is
disposed on the top end disc 5 of the filter element 3 and covers
at least part of the end disc 5, and may cover all of it. The
adapter piece 14 covering the chamber 4 has bypass openings 16 that
are disposed radially outside of the connecting piece 15 extending
axially, but radially inside the diameter of the chamber 4. The
chamber 4 can communicate with the surrounding space via the bypass
openings 16.
During normal operation, the bypass openings 16 in the adapter
piece 14 are closed by the valve body 11, which has a central
recess 17 via which the chamber 4 communicates with the connecting
piece 15, but at its end face is embodied like a disc, wherein the
disc edge is positioned against the inside of the adapter piece 14
and closes the bypass openings 16. However, if the pressure in the
raw fluid on the outside of the filter element 3 exceeds a limit or
threshold value, the valve body 11 is displaced axially, against
the force of the spring element 12 acting on it, into the open
position by the raw fluid, whereupon the raw fluid can flow through
the opened bypass openings 16 into the chamber 4 in the filter
element 3 and from here is discharged via the connecting piece
15.
On its side axially opposing the connecting piece 15, the adapter
piece 14 has clamping elements 18 that project into the chamber 4
and are positioned directly against the inner wall of the filter
medium body, of the filter element 3, limiting the chamber 4. On
their radially exterior side, the clamping elements 18 have a
clamping projection that projects into the material of the filter
medium body and catches there. In this manner the adapter piece 14
is securely retained in its axial position on the Filter element
3.
It is possible for the adapter piece to be joined to the filter
element by gluing, wherein in this case the clamping element is not
needed.
An annular sealing element or a non-woven material ring 19 may be
placed onto the upper end disc 5 or immediately adjacent to the
opening of the chamber 4.
An exteriorly disposed sealing ring 20 that is inserted into a
circumferential groove on the connecting piece 15 is placed onto
the connecting piece 15 of the adapter piece 14. A hose or tube or
a suitable mating part may be placed onto the connecting piece 15
or the connecting piece may be inserted into a mating piece,
wherein the sealing ring 20 ensures a flow-tight connection.
* * * * *